/tmo 

#33 


HOUSE  OF    REPRESENTATIVES,  May  SiL   l^l—li.:-. 
to  the  Committee  on  the  Judiciary  and  ordered  to  be  printed. 

[By  the  Chair/] 


PRESIDENTS  MESSAGE 

In   relation  tb  the  suspensu 


To  the  House  of  R 

of  the  ( 

following  n 
hi       een  received  : 
"  Resolve^  Tha 


if  not  incompatible  with' the  puj  given 

in  his  special  message  for   suspending   the  writ  of  s  still 

exist,  and  what  additional  reasons  now  exist  to  such  extent  fhat  the 
public  safety  requires  the  continuance  of  the  suspension  thei 

In  my  opiniui,  the  reasons  given  in  the  special  message,  transmit; 
ted  to  Congress  at  its  last  session,  recommending  the  suspension  of 
the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  still  exist  in  undiminished  force,  and  the 
present  juncture  especially  requires  the  continuance  of  the  suspen- 
sion. The  effects  of  the  law  for  that  purpose  have  been  most  salutary, 
and  to  that  law,  in  no  inconsiderable  degree,  are  we  indebted  for  the 
increased  efficiency  of  the  military  preparations  which  have  enable^ 
our  gallant  armies,  under  the  Providence  of  God,  to  beat  back  the 
vast  invading  forces  which  still  threaten  us. 

In  my  judgment  it  would  be  perilous,  if  not  calamitous,  to  discon- 
tinue the  suspension,  while  the  armies  of  the  enemy  are  pressing  on 
our  brave  defenders  with  persistent  effort  for  their  destruction  and  for 
the  subjugation  of  our  country.  ♦ 

It  is' a  source  of  gratification  to  be  able  .to  inform  you,  that  the 
mere  passage  of  the  law  suspending  the  writ  was,  so  effectual  in  restrain- 
ing those  wTho  were  engaged  in  treasonable  practices,  and  in  danger- 
ous complicity  with  our  enemies,  that  the  instances  ara  extremely  few 
in  which  arrests  were  found  necessary. 

The  effect  oi  the  law  in  preventing  the  abuse  of  the  writ,  for  the 
purpose  of  evading  military  service,  by  men  whose  plain  duty  it  ia 
to  .defend  their  country,  can  hardly  be  over  estimated.  m  . 

The  sensitiveness  exhibited  in  different  parts. of  the  country  to  the 
legislation'  on  this  subject,  is  indictive  of  the   love  of  Treedow  which 


m  innate  among  the  people,  and  which  should  ever  be  cherished  as  the 
3ole  guarantee  for  the  preservation  of  their  constitutional  liberties. 
Ji  is  not  doubted,  however,  that  if  those  who  have  expressed  dissatis- 
faction with  the  law,  had  been  in  possession  of  the  information  which 
it  was  my  duty  to  communicate  to  you,  and  which  may  not  yet  be 
revealed  without  injury  to  the  public  interests,  they  would  full}7  have 
approved  the  exercise  of  the  power  of  suspending  the  wntt  which  was 
Mfttiusted  to  Congress  by  the  Constitution.  All  trusts  impost  duties 
The  power  was  entrusted  expressly  with  the  intent  that  it  should  be 
isetl  when  necessary  to  the  public  gafety  in  case  of  invasion.  Con- 
trress,  concurring  v>ith  me  that  the  exigency  had  arisen  which  required 
ihe  exercise  of  the  power,  performed  but  a  plain  duty  in  passing  the 
ffew,  and  such  will,  I  doubt  not,  be  the  judgment  of  the  people  when 
&e  facts  can  be  made  known  without  detriment  to  their  interests. 

JEFFERSON   DAVIS. 
Richmond,  Va\,  May  2<>,  1864. 


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